The stage is set…quiet bays and estuaries, sandy beaches, a five-mile-long sand spit, and a protected island bird sanctuary on the Strait of Juan de Fuca;

wetlands, tide pools, rainforests, and lush river valleys. The players are ready …

Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklets, Harlequin Ducks, Black Oystercatchers, Peregrine Falcons, Barred and Pygmy Owls will be sporting their finest spring plumage for this celebration. Enjoy guided birding trips, boat tour, and a gala banquet. Our featured speaker this year, John Marzluff, is a professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington and a noted author.

Come bird with us and experience with others the spectacular landscapes of the Olympic Peninsula …you just might go home with a new bird for your life list! Check out the offerings by going online (www.olympicbirdfest.org).

Precede your BirdFest weekend with a three-day, two night birding cruise of the spectacular San Juan Islands on April 9-11, 2019. Visit San Juan and Sucia Islands, and more. Stay at the historic Roche Harbor Resort.

Extend your Birdfest weekend with the Neah Bay post-trip, April 14-16, 2019: two and one-half days exploring northwest coastal Washington, a region rarely seen by birders.

The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival today announced the 2019 theme as “Elegant Travelers on a Journey”. The 22nd annual festival will be held March 22, 23, 24, 2019 in Othello Washington. With the celebration of the spring migration of the Sandhill cranes, the festival offers a variety of events for the whole family to enjoy and learn. Online registration opens on February 1, 2019.

“I have been involved with the festival for almost 20 years and it always amazes me how every year there is something fresh and new about nature and the local area. Even as locals, we are often surprised to see what interesting blends there are between wildlife and farming in the Columbia Basin,” said Kurt Braunwart, Co-Chair of the festival.

In addition to a full slate of outstanding speakers focusing on area geology, ice age floods, a variety of cranes, and various animal migrations, the festival is also excited to have Wolf Haven International present for the first time ever. Based out of Tenino, WA, outreach coordinator Chris Montero will feature skull replicas, prey antlers, and a couple of life sized wolf cutouts at their table. Mr. Montero is an experienced naturalist guide, environmental interpreter, field technician, scientific illustrator and for the last 8 years has been teaching wildlife and conservation for National Geographic Student Expeditions in Ecuador, Brazil, Australia, Belize and more recently in the Canadian Arctic.

Visit the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival website in January for more information on the events at othellosandhillcranefestival.org. Contact number: (509) 765-9618

A summary of other events statewide may be found at the Washington State Audubon site: